O.C. voters head to polls today

Voters will head to the polls today to select candidates in political parties for the Nov. 2 election as well as vote on a slate of state propositions.

Polls in Orange County open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. To find polling places in your neighborhood, visit the county Registrar of Voters website at www.ocvote.com/vote/polling.htm.

Here's a rundown of some of the items on the ballot with local implications:

Voters in Costa Mesa will be asked to vote on a citywide ballot initiative, Measure C. If passed, the initiative would restrict the land use of the Orange County Fairgrounds at its present 150-acre site in Costa Mesa to fair and exposition uses. Should the measure pass, the annual county fair also would remain at that site, and the land could not be developed for residential uses, retail or gaming, among other potential uses.

Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor, who is running for the 68th Assembly District seat being vacated by Van Tran (R-Westminster) because of term limits, will square off in a Republican primary against Long Pham of Fountain Valley.

The Democratic primary in this race will pit Phu Nguyen of Fountain Valley against Joe Dovinh of Garden Grove.

Van Tran will be in the GOP primary that will decide which Republican will challenge the 47th Congressional District seat held by Democrat Loretta Sanchez.

Voters in Newport Beach will vote in primaries for the 70th Assembly District seat being vacated by Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine), who is being termed out and is running for the U.S. Senate.

The four Republicans vying for that seat are Donald P. (Don) Wagner of Irvine, Jerry Amante of Tustin, and Steven S. Choi of Irvine and Jay Ferguson, a contractor and real estate agent from Newport Beach. The Democratic primary for DeVore's seat pits Melissa Fox and Mike Glover, both of Lake Forest, against one another.

DeVore will go up against former Hewlett-Packard executive Carly Fiorina in the GOP primary to determine which Republican will challenge U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer's seat.

The three Republicans vying in the primary are Tom Campbell, Tim Kalemkarian and Al Ramirez.

In the Democratic primary, Boxer faces a challenge from Brian Quintana and Robert M. "Mickey" Kaus.

Finally, in the race for state attorney general, state Sen. Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach) will be vying for the Republican nomination in his party's primary against Steve Cooley and John Eastman.

On the Democratic side, there are seven candidates for attorney general.